Charlie at the Sydney Show

Charlie at the Sydney Show
Brisbane Courier 29 July 1916
Directed byJohn Gavin
Written byAgnes Gavin
StarringErn Vockler
Arthur Tauchert
CinematographyAlf Moulton
Release date
  • 20 May 1916 (1916-05-20)[1]
Running time
25 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageSilent film

Charlie at the Sydney Show is a 1916 Australian short film starring Charlie Chaplin impersonator Ern Vockler directed by John Gavin.[2][3]

Unlike many Australian films from the silent era, a copy of this survives almost in its entirety.[4]

Plot

A series of adventures happen to "Charlie" as he visits the Sydney Royal Easter Show: he chases a couple of larrikins who have picked the pocket of a man visiting the show, encounters various side-show acts, fights a boxing lady, meets a confidence man, and chases girls. The movie ends with a chance and Charlie driving off with a couple in a motor car.[5][6]

Cast

  • Ern Vockler

Production

The film was announced in May 1916. Vocker was a Chaplin impersonator who had been doing a "Chaoplin stunt" in Sydney for the past ten months.[7]

The movie was shot at the Sydney show. It contains the first film appearance of Arthur Tauchert, who was almost killed in an accident during filming.[8]

Reception

Sun 14 May 1916

The critic from Punch praised the film saying:

Mr. Gavin had unearthed a comedian of undoubted talent, who, with only slightly more experience in "Movie" acting, will soon eclipse the majority of the efforts, of comedians playing in imported films, and even aspire to be the equal of the great Charlie Chaplin himself. Mr. Gavin is to be congratulated on giving the public a decided novelty in films, and also on the extraordinarily heavy bookings he had already received for the exhibition of the picture in the N.S.W. shows. The scenario... contains many humorous situations... whilst the photography... is quite equal to anything yet screened in Sydney.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 May 1916. p. 2. Retrieved 13 September 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ 'Australian Chaplin Impersonator' at SilentComedians.com
  3. ^ "AN AUSTRALIAN PRODUCER". Arrow. No. 1062. New South Wales, Australia. 12 August 1916. p. 3. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ Id%3A9133;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=10 Charlie at the Sydney Show[permanent dead link‍] at National Film and Sound Archive
  5. ^ "Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. 28 July 1916. p. 1. Retrieved 24 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "AMUSEMENTS". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. No. 12, 985. New South Wales, Australia. 15 June 1916. p. 6. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "What The Press Agents Say". The Sun. No. 684. New South Wales, Australia. 7 May 1916. p. 20 (SUNDAY EDITION). Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ Arthur Tauchert at Australian Variety Theatre Archive
  9. ^ "THE MOVIES". Punch. Melbourne. 18 May 1916. p. 11. Retrieved 13 September 2013 – via National Library of Australia.


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